We are trying to stay in contact with each other, to see if we can help each other during these difficult times, and we are in contact with other business associations to see how they are doing their job
Some 10 days ago, together with 11 other business associations and chambers of commerce, we signed the petition and sent it to the Finance Minister and the Government of Serbia, in order to address all the difficulties the SMEs are experiencing during the corona crisis, said Đorđe Petrović, Executive Director of Dutch Serbian Business Association, for our online special edition.
During this coronavirus crisis, we have not changed the way we do things in comparison with how we did thing before, because we are the youngest association at this moment in Serbia. So, we don`t have officially employed people, we are all volunteers from different companies and we do all of our work in the Board, as well as me as a director, pro bono. Therefore, until now we have been doing all our work through emails and different e-platforms. At this moment, we are still in contact with all our members, with each other in the DSBA Board. We are trying to stay in contact with each other, to see if we can help each other during these difficult times, and we are in contact with other business associations to see how they are doing their job. We exchange experience regarding the corona crisis we are having now. As for my company, we are also trying to adjust to the situation we are having at this moment and we do things online, we are trying to stay in contact with our clients. We are trying to provide some online help and trainings. As for work, does not matter if it is DSBA of my company, we are trying to do most the job through different platforms, like Zoom, for example.
You signed together with other business association a document and sent it to Serbian Finance Minister, Sinisa Mali. What do you expect from Serbian Government, which measures to implement?
Some 10 days ago, together with 11 other business associations and chambers of commerce, we signed the petition and sent it to the Finance Minister and the Government of Serbia, in order to address all the difficulties the SMEs are experiencing during the corona crisis. We suggested some measures that could be taken into account one day the government decides what kind of measures they will have. So, some of the measures we proposed include deferrals of tax and charges for SMEs, easy access to bank credits, some sort of subsidies etc. So, I think that when we hear the Government measures, I think it will be on Tuesday (I am recording it on Monday), a lot of these proposed measures will be included. Some suggestions from that petition, I believe, will be put in practice when we hear the Gov’t plan.
How are you spending your private time during the pandemic?
I am still trying to keep my focus. In my private time, I am trying to improve myself, to read, to learn more, to come to more information about the things I am interested in, and I am also trying to stay physically fit – I have a big house and a big yard, so I can walk whenever I want, and it helps a lot. Generally speaking, I think most of us are generally working more in these times, compared with pre-corona crisis. There are now lots of things that have to be managed in the beginning. There is time I am spending with my family, and my kids, which I like. We are trying to do all things together during these times.
What will you do first after the state of emergency is cancelled?
My work, most of all, is connected with a lot of travelling. Now, for maybe three weeks, I haven’t travelled for more than 1 km, so when this corona crisis is over, I will sit in my car and drive to lots of my clients, that are friends now, to the DBSA Board members, the DSBA members. The personal contact is important. This situation showed us that a great deal of things can be done online, but we are all humans, we all need personal touch. We are all looking forward when this is all over, to sit in my car and hit the road and see some really wonderful people that I haven’t had an opportunity to see for a month, almost.